Resilient tire



RESILIENT TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED :UNI: 7. 1922.

f l Patented Aug. Il, i922.

zomeg.

ElVl'L BAM'ANN, OF ST. LOUIS, .li/IISSUR.

RESILIENT TRE.

Application filed June '7, 1922. Serial No. 568,475.

i7 10 all whom t may conce/m Be it known that l, Enit BAUMANN, a citizenof the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri,have invented certain nevv and useful improvements in Resilient Tires,oft Which the following is a specification containing a full, clear.,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part 10 hereof.

My invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement ot'parts hereinafter particularly described and distinctly claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanicalspringlilling (or a resilient mechanical insert) for the outercasings ofpneumatic-tires; Which shall be simple and durable in construction, aswell as of loW cost; and which will taire the place of the innertube otpneumatic-tires; and Which shall possess the same resiliency as aninner-tube, but be devoid of the disadvantages thereo'i'such as thedanger of being punctured, mutilated, or requiring Yfrequent repairsthat involve much expense and loss of time.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a cross-section of the present form of my invention, appliedto the usual demountable-rim, and outer-casing, of an automobile Wheel;the section being taken on the line l-l of Fig. 2, but showing the partsgreatly enlarged, for the salie ot clearness.

F ig. 2 is a detail side-elevation, partly in section, of a portion oian aiitomobile-wheel and its tire-casing, having my invention. appliedthereto.

Fig. 8 is a detail fragmentary inverted 40 vievv of one of my pistons orplungers; showing the means tor locking same against turnin and iig. a;is a detail side-elevation, partly in section, of one oi' mytread-members and its attached piston or plunger, as it appears beforeassembling same with other cooperating parts.

The numeral l designates the usual Wooden telly, 2 thespolres, and 3 thehub, of an ordi` 5() nary automobile-Wheel, Whether the same is of theform herein shown, or ot other construction, with either Wood or metalspokes, or (if desired) the said telly may be of metal.

In the ypresent case, have illustrated a metallic-rim 4 on the outerperiphery of the said Wooden telly l, and demountable clincherfrings areheld in place by the usual bolts 6, for the purpose of holding thetire-casing Y in position; but my invention may be used with other iormsot rims, such as the ordinary clincher-rini having integralclincher-iianges, and the construction and operation of my inventionWill be sub stantially the same in either case.

.The present form 07' t/zfc mec/amical substr'- tuc for nf/watches.

In the present form of my substitute for inner-tubes, I providea`base-ring 8, of any suitable material. (preferably ot metal), andhaving such size` that it may be detachably mounted on the periphery orthe said Wheelrim a, or upon the outer surface of the telly il, in case`the latter is of metal.

Said basefring 8 is rectangular in crosssection, and is of about halfthe Width of the said telly l, so there will be ample space on each sideot it, :tor the beaded or clincher portions of the casing 7.

A plurality or multiplicity of pistons `or plungers 9, (preferably atleast twice as many of them as there are Wheel-spokes 2), are mounted toslide radially in bearing-nuts l0, Which are provided With screw-threadsupon'their outer surfaces, and are screwed into radialinternallythreaded holes or seats ll in said base-ring 8.

Each, of said pistons or plungers 9 has, preferably, an enlargement l2at its outer end, With which is cast integral or fixed thereon atread-member or tread-engaging section 14, Which is curved incross-section, as shown in Fig. l, to snugly lit the interior of thetire-casing 7.

The construction and arrangement ot the said ti'ead-members la is suchthat they overlap the adjacent tread-members and form a continuoussupport for the tire-casing, throughout the internal circumferencevr oitsaid casing; the under-lapped portions of said tread-members beingformed with a recess or depression l5, to receive therein theoverelapped portions; thus obviating any elevation of the overlappedends beyond the outer periphery `of said members, andronsequentsharp-edgedprojections, which `Would Wear away or cut the fabric or'said tire-casing, and providing a comparatively smooth and regularsupporting-surface for said cas ing, throughout the inner circumferenceof the latter.

50 v the 'plunger-springs, which will noW'he dehers 14E forms closedjoints 'betvve'en'the meme' bers, and yet provides for their ready:appli- ,Furthermora such overlapped and recessed construction of thesaid tread-memcation and removal, as Well as permitting relativeyielding movement circumferentially of theW'heel 'tothe'required extent,to

`compensate for the contractionFand-expansion of the tire-casingduringuse. Y

vAs 'previously stated, the said-tread-m'embers 121 larepreferablyfcast' integral' With their respective'rplungers *orradially-mountedl supporting-rodsy ortposts 19 gv the 'po-int atWhichsaidmembers join Itheir saidplungers being preferably at 1a pointnearfthe freelend of f the said recessed portion `of leach` 'mem! ber sothat said recessed: Qo'rldefpressed) portion of each-memberWill-restragainst and be lap iirmlysupported `by `the plunger tolvvhichit is "attaehed,"ivh'ile the opposite (or unrecessed) end of eachtreadmeinber will overthe -fneXt adjacent recessed portion of Janother*treadememberfand"restin contact therewith;- and 'Will he firmly`:supported Lby its post Ior plunger 9.` Fig.v 2.

1 In'other Words, the vsaid loverlapped treadmembers are o-f suiiicientlengthv to reach from one of said postsor'fplungers 9 to the next.adjacent plunger, 'and overlap thesa'me,

`as Well as `overlap the *adjacent 'tread-'memher onone side, andunderlap `theF'neXt ad? jaeentftreadmemher on the yopposite side.

Such construction isY very vefficientand durable,l for the reasonthateach treadememoer is thusifprovidedfwith tvv'o postssor,plurig"e,'rs-9`,` Whichftransmit the "load lor'fweight equal'lyvvto-shoth'ends of the'treadfmemhers, -L and Vmakethe structure 'very' muchstronger and morefdurable thanif but 4a singlep-est forv each4tread-membery Were' provided.

Said plungers or postsl 9 are limited Vin their outward-movement hy pinsor lu'gsvl,

which A.project laterally from the inner'ends of said-plungers, andcontact Withfthe ad' jacent inner end` of *said 'bearing-nuts 10, in

which *aref preferably formed, Fig. V3, radial grooves 17in Whichsaid-pins or lugs rest,

and act as locks for said -nuts,-to prevent g endsresting fin'contact-withithe Yinner surf face of the'adjaeent tread-member :14,While samefrom turningupon their ep'lungers, exceptf-Whe'n .itisy'desired to tighteniorfloosen scribed.

VAfplunf er-sprng '18"-1is provided for leach of said p ungersf 9, 'tovnormallyhold lthe,

l-atter' (as Welll asssaid tread-members '14) at lthe limitof theiryoutwardvmoveinent, Whichis that in-Which-they are shown'in Figsul' and2.

j '.Inthe presenty form of my' invention, said springs 18- are of the 1form known :as f coilsprings, andone y"of Vthem is mounted upon each of'saidv` plungers 9, 4with their f outer their inner ends engagespring-seats-On the `outer ends of said hearing-nuts 10.

Said spring-seats may, of course, be of any approved form, but in thepresent case they vhavea,spring-retaining sleeve 19 projecting outwardlyfrom the inner end of said nuts 10, and extending into said springrashort distance, to hold said spring` in proper position.` l u The outerends of said springs r18 engage said enlargements 12,- -offthe outerendsof said `plungers orposts 9, andare .thushheld in yproper position.A

A A:grease-cup `or lubrieantsreceptacle' "2() is formedfin (ror placedin) the .saidmetallicrim 4- -andiin saidl felly l, at a point'directlyoppositethe-inner end of eachofsaidfpis- `tons or uplungers 9, so 'thateach -time )the latter arelforced inwardly (While theftire is travelingalong a road or pavement) fthe in'nerends of said plungers WilliI"dipf-into the cups, and then be'drawn outivith a supply of grease,which will be distrihutedio the plunger-bore of said bearingnuts10,:a1idwill also find its way to ythe-said springs 18 and'alllthe otherinternal parts ofthe 1de,

vice, andflreep same l-properly greasedsror oiled, and thus also protectfrom'rustiand corrosion :all Joflsaid `partsVas Wellfas keep themproperly ilubricated during use of the tire.

L Itlwill be understood, thatat everyrevolution'ofthe Wheel carrying:the tire,'the said springs 18Wil-l'becoinpresse'dandffreleasedifalternately, and thesaidir=pliingers-9 Will he forced into and Withdrawnfromlthe saidgreaserups 20 a certain distance; more or\ 'less, .depending upon-theWeight of-"the lo'ad carried by thewtire, at every 'revolution ofthelatter. p

'To prevent the lsaid hase-ring 8 ifrom Vcrawling (either forward 'orbackward) upon the said rim 'et and `fe'lly 1, aftrafnsversel key-seat21 is cutin the inner/.Wall Y.

The operation.

.The .operation 'ofmy invention fis very simple, and Will'he readilyunderstood'hy .y

an linspection of Figs. l and 2, in- Whiclifthe `various parts are:shovvnvin their normal operative'positions. l

It will be seen that when the Wheel carryingtheltirey moves along theroadfthefsaid outer-casing 7 Will :be -fcompressedftvhere sameis incontactwith the road or pavement, and the corresponding tread-members 14will be forced inwardly against the power of their springs 18, and saidplungers 9 will slide in their bearings in said bearing-nuts 10,"untilthe innner'ends of said plungers dipinto the grease or lubricantcontained in said grease-cups 20, and the parts will be therebythoroughly lubricated, as before described As many as two, and sometimesthree or our of said tread-sections 14 and their springs 18, will (atone time) be forced in wardly by the weight of the load carried by thetire.

0f course, the lighter the load the smaller the number of tread-membersor sections 14 forced inwardly at one time, vice versa.

The overlapped construction of the said tread-members 14, previouslydescribed, causes a number of adjacent tread-members to move inwardlyagainst the power of their springs, in unison, so that each of suchinwardly-moved tread-members and their springs act in combination, andthus are enabled to support very heavy loads without breaking or damageto any of the parts of my invention.

I do not limit myself to the exact form and arrangement oi? parts shownin the drawing, as it will be readily understood that changes andimprovements may be made by skilled workmen, without departing from thespirit of my invention, and still be within the scope of my claims,

The casing 7, containing my self-contained inner-tube mechanicalsubstitute, may be readily removed from the wheel, for repairs orinspection, by merely removing the nuts from the bolts 6 of theclincher-rings 5, then detaching the one of the latter which is on theoutside of the wheel, and then sliding said casing and its contentslaterally cti of the wheel rim 4.

Mounting the casing 7 and its contained inner-tube mechanicalsubstitute, may also be easily accomplished, by reversing the demountingoperation, just described, and placing all of the parts in the positionin which they are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, much in the same well-knownway in which a cornmon partially-iniiated inner-tube is irst inserted inthe casing, and then the latter is placed in position and secured uponthe wheel-rim.

Of course, the mounting operation will be more easily accomplished ifbut little strain is thrown upon the casing by the springs 18 of theinvention, and such strain can be easily regulated while the casing andits contents are oit the rim, by screwing said bearingenuts 10 out orin, as required to throw more or less strain on the side-walls of saidcasing.

1f said bearing-nuts 10 are moved outwardly, there will be more strainthrown on said casing walls; but if said nuts are movedinwardly aslighter strain or filling7 torce will be exerted on said casing.

In assembling the plungers 9, bearing 7 nuts 10, tread-members 14, andbase-ring 8, in the casing (which of course should be done before thedevice is mounted on the wheel-rim), `the said casing is preferably laidfiat upon a work-bench, table, or the 7` floor, and then the variousparts are inserted in the casing, and the tension upon the springs 18 isadjusted, as required, by screwing said bearing-nuts 10 inwardly oroutwardly in their threaded seats 11 in said base-ring, after which thecasing and the mechanical substitute for an inner-tube containedtherein, are ready to be mounted upon the wheel-rim 4, which may beaccomplished in the manner previously de- 8 scribed.

A suitable forked screw-driver, or spanner, is to be used in tighteningup or loosening said bearing-nuts 10, such tool being engaged in thesaid grooves 17 in the inner ends of said nuts.

In order to turn said bearing-nuts by means of the tool just mentioned,it will be necessary to first disengage said pin 16 from saidlocking-grooves 17, which may be done by compressing said springs 18,and sliding said plungers 9 inwardly until said pin is removed from thegroove which it previously occupied, when said nuts may be turned, asdescribed, and then relocked by 100 allowing said pin to again occupythe proper locking-groove.

The casing 7 protects all of the parts from rain, mud, sand, snow, andmoisture, and

thereby enables their condition to 4be con- 105 tinually first-class.

I claim 1. A mechanical substitute :tor the innertubes ofpneumatic-tires, consisting of a base-ring adapted to be placed withinthe l tire-casing before the latter is mounted on the wheel-rim; aseries of sliding plungers projecting radially from said base-ring;overlapping tread-sections mounted on the outer ends of said plungers,so that each of 115 said tread-sections is supported by two adjacentones of said plungers; and means for yieldingly urging said plungers outwardly, to force said tread-sections into contact with the inner surfaceof said tire cas- 12o ing.

2. A mechanical substitute 'for the inner-- tubes of pneumatic-tires,consisting of a base-ring adapted to be placed within the tirecasingbefore the latter is mounted on 125 the wheel-rim; a series ofbearing-nuts, having radial bearings, and threaded into radialnut-openings in said base-ring; a series of plungers mounted to slide insaid radial bearings, and project outwardly beyond the 130 outer`periphery of said base-ring; means eanried by Jthe outer ends oi'v saidplungeis,

`for engagingktlie inner Wall o Vthe tire-eas ing, and suppoi'tingvthelatter; springs restingat their` innenends upon sadbearingnuts,andhavingtheii' outeiI ends in engage.-` mentiwitli said means forengaging the innei Wall of the `tirefcaising; and means for pre-`venting-creepingof seid base-ring upon the Wheel-rim; :whereby all o'the parte above mentioned, maybe bodily mounted upon anddetached'fronithje wheel-rim, byva lateral movement up on `the l latter.

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